The Daily News SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1903. CABLE COMPETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1903, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1903. CABLE COMPETITION.

While the British people have been agititiDg for all rid cibler, foreigners have not besn idle, lastigated p.-iacip-ally by Germany, the Governments of France, Holland, with Germany hav<i Utely b«en actively engage! (it is stated) in promoting the laying of cables, paid for by the State, witti a [ riew of connecting up some of their possessions in the East Indies and elsewhere in such a Wf-y as to avoid the arc-ssity of passing over lines owned by British companies. The-:e cabl.s . m«y be divided into three groups: 1. France— to Reunion, 460 miles; R?union to Mauritius, 150 miles ; Brest to Dakar, 2415 mile?. 2. France and Holland, These countries in conjurc'ion have agreed to la 7 a cable between Cochin China, Pulo Condcr, and Dutch Borneo, 810 mles in all. 3. Germany and Hollind. G#many has arranged to carry a table from Dutch Borneo to thi Celebes Islands, 300 miles. Bcl'andwill furnish this part of the cible, but tbe two • Governments together will cany it on from tbe Ce'ebfs to the Pdew Islands, from there to Yap, acd from Yap to some point in connection with the American Pacific cable which is now being laid. The whole length of this connection will bo 1680 miles, and the two Governments will jointly pay a subsidy of .£70,000 a year for it. By th ; s mems Germany will be provided with an eistwatd cable routo ac O's r Ameiicato New York, wh<re it will | join th Geiman Atlantic cable lines, j Thm > Berlin could telegraph to the Pacific withe ut us ; ng British lines, and f.s a branch lice of 1800 miles is to be! l<id from the Pelew Islands to Shanghai, she could cable simila'ly to Chita I without our h«lp or prevention. j